ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Nine prompts!! This is a bit of a challenge. So, for something completely different ...

The Art Gallery
(c) Shelley Hansen 2015

Whenever I’m in Brisbane there’s a special place I go -
it’s nestled down on South Bank – and it’s free!
The Gallery where priceless masters grace the walls on show -
so come and take a guided tour with me …

Each painting has its history – a snapshot set in time -
and each one has a message to impart.
Botanic plates of native flowers – rare and quite sublime –
or brazen bursts of gaudy modern art.

The canvas panoramas stand on easels, hang on hooks -
fine miniatures, great oils, embroidered thread.
The calming open spaces intersperse with secret nooks
that showcase mounted sculptures – bronzed and dead!

Who knows what story lies behind a child with haunted eyes
who’s cradled by a mother clad in black?
I seem to hear the intermingled pathos of her sighs,
perhaps bereft of one not coming back.

I get the giggles at a one-eyed woman – quite surreal!
Wild music bursts in quavers from her mouth!
I see the tall ships plying salt and spray – I almost feel
the bold adventure of their journey south.

The one I love the best depicts a view of washing days –
the laundry maid toils faithfully. It seems
I feel her ache of longing as the window draws her gaze
as if she would escape to sweet old dreams.

When life is far too busy this becomes my secret ploy
to let the world go by, and to entrust
my thoughts to art ... then wander to the café to enjoy
fine coffee and a pie with ginger crust!

Just lovely Shelley, and a brilliant idea for the use of the prompts! I've read this several times over and think it's wonderful. I love the fourth stanza, which sets the scene for the following two with the question of what stories lie behind some of these paintings. The way you've ended it is brilliant too! Really enjoyed this x

Thank you so much Catherine - that's a very generous accolade! I actually wasn't as happy with this poem as I have been with others - I thought it was a bit "wordy". So that makes me even more appreciative of your comments ... and happier with the poem!

Cheers, Shelley

Yes I think you've weaved those prompts in nice and subtle (except the pie at the end nothing subtle about pie)

I don't much like the city but the art gallery is one of the good things.

Cheers, Marty

I don't think its wordy at all - it's damn near perfect and the pie is a lovely finishing touch - what a brilliant use of the prompts. Well done Shelley

Goodonya Shelley. You've expressed your passion for culture. That's a great gallery in a wonderful setting along the river.
I've been there just once, and also the Museum and the theatre precinct, love it !

You've met the challenge beautifully, Shelley. This would have to be the first time that "ginger crust" has appeared in the world of poetry (or anywhere for that matter!), and I reckon Bob owes us an explanation. Given the hoops we've had to jump through to use it, what strange place did it come from?

Cheers
David

it was one of his puckish moments I expect David Or should that be peckish?

Thank you very much Neville, David, Maureen and Marty.

I agree, David - where did it come from??? The "ginger crust" almost had me stumped!! I nearly put it into an imaginary surrealist painting (maybe being eaten by the woman with one eye) ... but then decided to give everyone a good (un)healthy letdown at the end by throwing a bit of genuine Aussie cuisine into the "arty-farty" mix!!

I have these visions of Bob sitting under the Capricorn stars till the wee small hours, dreaming up impossible prompts with oddly placed silly bells ... perhaps aided by a generous dose of medicinal "Bundy" (??)

Cheers, Shelley

Brilliant writing Shelley...great use of the prompts!
Trish